Economy
Umahi: Ministry Of Works Did Not Award Abuja-Kaduna Road Contract To Mikano
Umahi: Ministry Of Works Did Not Award Abuja-Kaduna Road Contract To Mikano
Umahi: Ministry of Works did not award Abuja-Kaduna road contract to Mikano. The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. Sen. David Nweze Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, has clarified that the Federal Ministry of Works did not award the Abuja–Kaduna Road contract to Mikano International Limited. The Minister stated that the contract was awarded to Infiouest International Limited, in line with due procurement processes and transparency standards.
The Minister made this clarification while briefing journalist on 12 Febuary, 2026 in the Ministry Confrence Room in Mabushi Abuja, also drawing public attention to the increasing rate of vandalisation of critical road infrastructure across the country. He noted that the Ministry has a responsibility to provide accurate information to the public and to protect national infrastructure from destruction.
Engr. Umahi expressed serious concern over widespread vandalism affecting roads, bridges, and related infrastructure nationwide. He cited recent cases along the Lagos Coastal Road corridor, where protective structures and road components have been deliberately damaged.
According to the Minister, flooding recorded in some sections of the coastal highway was largely caused by blockage of underground drainage channels with refuse, emphasizing the need for public cooperation in maintaining infrastructure.
He commended the Lagos State Government, security agencies, and the Nigeria Police for deploying personnel to safeguard critical infrastructure and combat vandalism.
Parking of heavy trucks on bridges creates structural stress, as bridges are not designed for static heavy loads. He disclosed that some offenders have already been arrested and are being prosecuted.
The Minister highlighted the Federal Government’s adoption of reinforced concrete road technology, which is expected to last between 50 and 100 years, compared to traditional asphalt roads. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for supporting long-term infrastructure development and for approving several strategic road projects nationwide.
The Minister announced the
Extension of the Bodo–Bonny Road by 8.7km to link the East–West Road, using concrete pavement technology.
He added that Progress on major legacy road corridors including routes connecting Akwanga – Jos – Bauchi – Gombe – Maiduguri.
Expansion of CCTV surveillance on major bridges and highways to curb vandalism and enhance monitoring.
The Minister emphasized that federal road projects are distributed based on national development priorities, not regional considerations. He called on Nigerians to support national unity and protect public assets.
The Federal Government is considering stronger policies and collaboration with private sector partners and state governments to improve road maintenance and enforce compliance against illegal road obstructions and structures.
Addressing the status of NNPCL-funded road projects initiated under Executive Order 007 (April–May 2023), the Minister clarified that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will no longer directly pay contractors for these projects. He announced that the Federal Ministry of Works has officially taken over both project supervision and payment responsibilities, in line with new federal directives.
The Honorable Minister disclosed that ₦127 billion has been released by Mr. President for the continuation of these projects, underscoring the administration’s commitment to completing inherited infrastructure initiatives. He noted that an estimated ₦7 trillion will be required to complete all NNPCL-funded projects, describing them as critical to national connectivity and economic development.

Umahi
Sen. Umahi further revealed that the Federal Government inherited 6,604 ongoing federal road and bridge projects nationwide, with a projected ₦16.9 trillion required for their completion. He reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that all inherited projects must be completed, stressing that infrastructure development remains a top priority of the administration.
The Honourable Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the execution of these projects, assuring Nigerians that the government is determined to deliver quality infrastructure that meets international standards.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan, In his closing remarks, thanked members of the press for their continued partnership and commitment to national development
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and urged the public and media to verify facts and provide constructive feedback to support improved service delivery.
Crime
Brazil Fines TikTok $30m Over Failure to Implement Child Safety
Brazil Fines TikTok $30m Over Failure to Implement Child Safety
Brazil’s data protection agency on Tuesday fined TikTok nearly $30 million for failing to implement child safety measures in what it said was a “powerful signal” to social media companies.
Eereporter.com
Brazil has taken a tough stance on the regulation of social media platforms, cracking down on disinformation and requiring users under 16 years to have their accounts linked to those of their parents.
An enforcement director with the ANPD data protection agency, Fabricio Lopes, told a press conference that TikTok “was not taking the necessary measures to prevent adolescents from accessing the platform and from having the data of these children and adolescents processed.”
This data was “being used to offer advertising to adolescents.”
He said the fine of 153.7m reais ($29.9 million) was a “powerful signal to other platforms regarding how seriously the ANPD takes this work” and that the agency hoped they “get the message.”
TikTok agreed last week to pay $400m to settle a lawsuit with the US Department of Justice over claims that the video-sharing platform collected children’s personal data without parental permission.
– Tougher enforcement –
This month, the ANPD also ordered popular streaming platform Discord to suspend livestreams and video calls after a teenage girl was allegedly encouraged to take her own life during a broadcast.
The agency told AFP that an appeal filed by Discord on Monday against the suspension is under review.
ANPD director Lorena Coutinho said the agency had, last week, initiated proceedings to verify the compliance of 22 social media networks and platforms with a law passed this year to protect children and teens online.
In addition to the fine, the ANPD ordered TikTok parent company ByteDance to delete data collected in violation of regulations.
Coutinho said TikTok had committed to suspend all adverts for users who are not logged in.
TikTok has committed to “implementing a compliance plan to improve the protection of children and adolescents,” the ANPD said.

Brazil Fines TikTok
The platform will be required to automatically apply stricter privacy settings to accounts belonging to children under the age of 16, strengthen parental supervision systems, and implement stricter content filters.
TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AFP.
In 2024, the platform X was blocked for 40 days in Brazil, until the social media network owned by the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, complied with the Supreme Court’s orders to remove accounts spreading disinformation.
Eereporter.com
Economy
Umahi Leads the Way as Tinubu Orders Immediate Action on Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road Intervention
Umahi Leads the Way as Tinubu Orders Immediate Action on Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road Intervention
The Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Umahi, CON, has moved swiftly to address the worsening condition of the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti road in Ekiti and Kogi States, and Benin-Agbor-Asaba Roads following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for urgent intervention to ease the hardship being faced by motorists and commuters.
Eereporter.com
Umahi, who expressed deep concern over the deplorable condition of the road and the suffering of road users who have spent hours and, in some cases, days on the route, said the Federal Government was determined to take immediate corrective measures while working towards permanent solutions.
“President Tinubu, GCFR, has directed the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene and ensure that necessary corrective actions are taken to restore movement on the affected roads as quickly as possible.” Said Umahi
The Minister, in response to the directive, has already set machinery in motion for immediate action.
As part of the intervention, Umahi directed the Minister of State for Works to lead a team of ministry officials to the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti axis to assess the situation and commence urgent remedial works.
The assignment is already on as of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, with officials of the Ministry on the ground to begin the intervention.
While the intervention team moved into Ekiti and Kogi States, Umahi himself headed to Benin, Edo State, alongside members of the National Assembly Works Committees, to initiate a similar coordinated intervention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road.
The Benin meeting is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of the Edo and Delta State Governments and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with the aim of finding immediate solutions to the challenges confronting motorists on the strategic corridor.
Umahi also took responsibility for the unfortunate situation on the affected roads and apologised to commuters who have been stranded or delayed for several hours and days.

Benin-Agbor-Asaba
He assured road users that the Federal Government’s response would go beyond temporary relief, with immediate measures being pursued alongside permanent solutions to restore the affected roads and improve their long-term reliability.
Francis Nwaze
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
August 25, 2026
Eereporter.com
Economy
NNPC Cares: Boost for Nationwide Medical Access as NMSL Deploys Laparoscopic Instrument in Abuja
NNPC Cares: Boost for Nationwide Medical Access as NMSL Deploys Laparoscopic Instrument in Abuja
NNPC Medical Services Limited (NMSL) has deployed articulating laparoscopic instruments at its main hospital in Utako, Abuja. The machine is an advanced surgical equipment designed to enhance precision and flexibility during laparoscopic procedures.
Eereporter.com
The latest deployment widens the range of procedures available at the medical facility and represents a boost for healthcare access in the country.

NNPC
Acting Managing Director / Chief Operating Officer, NMSL, Dr. Dickson Bada, received the equipment from SQI Limited, represented by Dr. Emmanuel Otitoloju.
NNPC Limited continues to invest in its medical facilities, which are open to the public nationwide, towards improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Eereporter.com
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